Latest Chan Division News
Research

Study finds 3 percent of children have elevated sensory issues that seemingly worsen throughout early childhood, a pattern strongly linked to autism ⟩
December 29, 2022

Autism Faculty Research

By following more than 1,500 children over six years, USC-led study helps confirm sensory features are an early behavioral marker of autism.

By Mike McNulty Figure 1 from the article showing identified Class types and their respective trajectories. (Figure courtesy of Chen et al.) New results from a USC-led study reveal that 3 percent of all children have elevated sensory traits which seemingly worsen as they grow from infants/toddlers…

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Karla Ausderau honored with 2022 Patricia Buehler Legacy Award for Clinical Innovation ⟩
November 18, 2022

Alumni Awards Events Lectures and Talks Research

Karla Ausderau (Courtesy of Karla Ausderau) Karla Ausderau MA ’00, PhD ’09, associate professor in the occupational therapy program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and two-time USC alumna, was awarded the division's 2022 Patricia Buehler Legacy Award for Clinical Innovation. Ausderau…

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Study pinpoints three brain regions displaying telltale patterns in autistic individuals ⟩
November 14, 2022

Autism Faculty Research

USC scientists are first to identify patterns of white matter connectivity exclusive to core autistic symptoms, pointing out potential flaw in previous autism neuroscience research.

By Mike McNulty Correlational tractography analysis by Aziz-Zadeh and colleagues revealed group differences in multiple tracts throughout the brain. (Courtesy of Lisa Aziz-Zadeh) New study results from an international research team led by USC scientists have identified a signature pattern of white…

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Study identifies social, motor skills patterns unique to autistic children ⟩
July 4, 2022

Autism Research

Findings help clarify relationships between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Coordination Disorder

By Mike McNulty (Photo/Adobe Stock) Results from a new study published in Autism Research show that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) each have their own distinct patterns of social and motor skills, which also overlap in some instances. The results also…

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Analysis of more than 82,000 autistic children’s healthcare usage data finds sex, race, ethnicity disparities ⟩
April 29, 2022

Autism Community and Partners Research

Findings provide new insights and elicit new questions for understudied autistic groups.

By Mike McNulty (Photo/Adobe Stock) A new analysis of data collected from more than 82,000 autistic children across seven years reveals significant differences in their healthcare utilization according to sex, race and ethnicity. Results of the study led by Assistant Professor Amber Angell and its…

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New analysis of developmental screen finds autistic children showed heightened sensory, motor behaviors as infants ⟩
March 7, 2022

Autism Community and Partners Research

By analyzing more than 6,000 questionnaire responses, team of USC and UNC researchers identify areas during infancy linked to later neurodevelopmental risks.

By Mike McNulty (Photo/Adobe Stock) Early detection of autism within the community — in the home, at daycare, or during well child visits, for example — is critical to increasing access to early intervention services. But surprisingly, there are just a few tools that can reliably identify the…

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New study shows autism correlated with changing sensory preferences during early childhood ⟩
March 3, 2022

Autism Community and Partners Research

Results from a USC–UNC study suggest sensory issues in early infancy may be the first signs of a later autism diagnosis.

By Mike McNulty (Photo/Adobe Stock) Results from a new study published today in Child Development provide the first longitudinal evidence about the trajectories of sensory reactivity patterns during early childhood among a large community sample with diverse developmental outcomes. Many autistic…

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Peace garden, narrative research study selected for post-pandemic initiative funding ⟩
February 25, 2022

Awards Community and Partners Health and Wellness Pandemic Research

Innovative community-focused projects are part of USC Chan’s $2.5M ReSPONs Initiative.

By Mike McNulty Future site of the University Park Peace Garden (Photo/Courtesy of Camille Dieterle) Peace and understanding have been in relatively short supply throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To help restore them both in the wake of the past two tumultuous years, the USC Chan Division is funding…

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New study first to show figurative language comprehension relies upon brain’s motor regions ⟩
January 18, 2022

Research

USC neuroscientists demonstrate that, like literal language, abstract metaphors are embodied in the brain.

By Mike McNulty Sample test item courtesy of Lisa Aziz-Zadeh “Bend your ear.” “Grasping at straws.” “Kick the bucket.” English is filled with figurative language that makes meaning by evoking physical actions of the human body. During the past decade, a number of scientific studies have…

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Newly published review covers current brain-gut-microbiome and autism literature ⟩
December 16, 2021

Autism Diversity, Access, Equity Research Students

Co-first authors of Nutrients review supported by USC’s DIA JumpStart undergraduate pipeline program.

By Mike McNulty (Illustration by Martina/Adobe Stock) A new scoping review of nearly 200 publications covering the relationships between autism spectrum disorder and the brain–gut–microbiome system was published online today in Nutrients. The review synthesizes the growing body of research…

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